Summary:
Zip code 35116, covering the Morris, Alabama area, is home to just one school: Bryan Elementary School, which serves students in grades PK-5 with an enrollment of 697 students.
Bryan Elementary School is a standout performer, earning a 4-star rating for three consecutive years and ranking in the 88th percentile of Alabama elementary schools (85th out of 686 in 2025-2026). This is particularly impressive given that its parent district, Jefferson County, ranks in the bottom quartile statewide with a 1-star rating. The school dramatically outperforms district averages across all subjects and grade levels. For example, 4th-grade science proficiency is 83.59% compared to the district's 36.31%, and 5th-grade English proficiency is 82.81% versus the district's 63.40%. Math proficiency is also strong, with 4th graders at 67.19% proficiency versus the district's 28.49%. The school's chronic absenteeism rate is remarkably low at just 4.9%, less than one-third of the district rate of 16.9%, suggesting strong family engagement and a positive school culture.
With only 25.54% of students receiving free/reduced lunch, the school serves a relatively more economically advantaged population, which may contribute to its success. However, the sheer magnitude of the achievement gap with the district indicates school-specific factors are driving results. Notably, science proficiency jumped by nearly 13 percentage points in a single year, from 70.73% to 83.59%, far outpacing district and state gains. For parents considering this area, Bryan Elementary School offers a consistently high-performing, academically rigorous environment with a strong literacy foundation, making it a model worth studying within the otherwise underperforming Jefferson County district.
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